The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-10-22
ELSIE'S LESSON.


heard swift footsteps coming up the
graveled walk, knew that something hal
gone wrong with Elsie in school that day,
for her cheeks were flushed with excite
ment and the blue eyes were sparkling
with anger.
Elsie burst into the sitting room like
small whirIwind, and, tossing her
school-bag down on one end Of the sofa
and her hat on the other, exclaimed
mamma, what do you think that wick
ed Sadie Wilson has done? I don't
hardly suppose you'll believe it of her,
but it's true. She stole my dear little
gold dollar! Isn't it too mean of her?"
"Are you sure?' asked mamma, quiet
ly. It was not the first time that she
ha heard her little girl make hasty ac
cusations and withdraw them afterward,
and before she blamed Saddle she want
ed to know what reason Elsie had for her
statement.
.Tm just as sure ss-as / am that I'm
standing right here, Mamma Bowen"
Elsie protested "Now. I'll tell you all
about it, and see if you don't think SO,
too. You know papa gave it to me just
after breakfast, and took it to school
with me to show the girls. They all
thought it was lovely birthday present;
and Sadie Wilson, she ha int ever seen
one before, and she thought it was SO
pretty she waited me to change with her
and give it to her for dollar in pennies
out of her bank. OF course, I wasn't going
to trade off my lovely little gold dollar for
lot of old pennies; and / told. her SO
though she leased like everything. IPut
it in my deck before school, and then l
forgot all about it till I had started for
home. So [ ran back for it, and it was
gone! Sadie just stole it because I
wouldn't give it to her, and I'm going to
make her give it back to mel" And Elsie
paused, brea thless with her eager recital.
"But, my dear, don't see why you
should accuse Sadie of taking it because
you have missed it, said mamma, gently.
"But just know she did, just as much
as if I ID seen her." protested Elsie. "She
stayed in at recess to study her geogra-
ply, and there wasn'tlanother single soul
in the school-room. So how could any
one else have taken it? She's thief;
and I'm going to tell all the girls, SO they
won't 'sociate with her. don't think che
ought to be allowed to come to school"
And Elsie's curls and ribbons and ruffles
fairly quivered with righteous indigna-
ton
"Elsie," said mamma, gravely, 81 don't
want you to say anything about the loss
of your gold dollar for week at least.
You may have put it somewhere else
and forgotten about it. Don't you re.
member the pencil you were 50 sure
Bridget had taken? don't think Saddle
would have taken your dollar, even il
she did want it; and I know you would
be very sorry il you found out afterward
that you had accused her unjustly. Now,
remember, shall be very much disp cas-
ed if L find you have spoken about the
matter to any OF your scnoolmates until
you have had time to make thorough
search for the dollar"
"Oh, mamma, she'll take everything all
the girls have got!' protested Elsie; but
her mother was firm, and the little girl
knew that she must obey.
Elsie was very anxious for the week
to come to an end, that she might tell her
schoolmates of Saddles guilt; and she
treated the girl so coldly and made 80
many remarks about the missing dollar
in her hearing that Sadie could not help
feeling that Elsie suspected her.
She was more unhappy over the thought
of such an accusation than Elsie was
over the loss of her birthday present, and
she hoped that some day it would be found
and prove her innocence.
Friday afternoon Elsie was putting
her desk in order, and had taken out all
it's contents that she might dust it tho
roughly, when her seatmate, who was
helping her, exclaimed
30 E sic, VIII at is that shining thing
down in the crackp'
Elsie's face flushed as she guessed what
made the golden CLEAN; and she was not
surprised when Myrs, with the aid of a
hat pin brought the missing gold dollar
to sight.
She had pushed it unknowingly into the
crack between the boards of her desk
while she was taking out her books, and
there it had lain ever since.
Sadie was as happy as Elsie over the
recovery of the lost coin, for she felt that
now che was free from the suspicion
which she felt Elsie had entertained.
Mamma, just spose I had told all the
girls Sadie took it," said Elsie, as she
told her mother the story that evening.
"Would't it have been dreadful? Sadie
would have felt so bad; and would have,
too, when found out. do honestly be-
lieve this will be lesson TO me, mamma,
not to be so sure when 1 don't truly
know"
"Be slow to speak," quoted mamma, as
she kissed her little girl goodnight
Christian InteHigencer.